The Issue: GOP presidential candidate Ron Paul’s lead in some polls, in advance of the Iowa caucuses.

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Ron Paul is a Republican libertarian who does a disservice to both libertarians and the GOP (“A ‘Blame America First’ Republican,” Rich Lowry, Dec. 20).

While some of his instincts are defensible, many of his views and policy solutions are downright loony.

It is odd, indeed, that he should be polling so well as we approach the Iowa caucuses — but no more odd than that Iowa, an unrepresentative state, should wield so much influence.

Paul Bloustein

Cincinnati

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After being ignored for most of the political season, despite an obviously huge and loyal following, Paul is finally getting some attention from the media.

Sadly, I had to read Rich Lowry and John Podhoretz’s successive articles (“‘Lost’ Republicans,” PostOpinion, Dec. 21) on the perils of a Ron Paul candidacy.

Are they so terrified of the populace suddenly reading the fine print of each candidate’s policies and seeing the truth that they must start slinging diatribes and trashing a true patriot?

America, read Paul’s work, and you will come around.

David Barton

Bay Shore

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Paul is a disgrace to the Republican Party.

He’s an isolationist who doesn’t care if Iran has nuclear weapons.

Paul’s a senile old man and a danger to America. He should get off the stage immediately.

JR Cummings

Manhattan

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It doesn’t concern me that Paul has surged in the polls in Iowa, because it seems that every candidate has had a turn as front-runner, and now it’s Paul’s turn.

Paul’s ideas are too radical, and America is too smart to be wooed by them.

Mitt Romney will take the Hawkeye State when all the dust has settled.

He has consistently been the most presidential candidate and will end up representing the Republican Party in the general election.

Jacob Neumark

Manhattan

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Here’s what Lowry’s argument boils down to:

All of the candidates for president love big government.

They all love the warfare-welfare state.

They love America’s vast military empire, the invasions and occupations and endless war, torture, infringements on civil liberties, military detention, income tax, corporate bailouts, socialism, interventionism, the drug war and so forth.

They are incorrigible.

That is, except for Paul, who has vehemently opposed all of the above for over 30 years, and has a record to prove it.

But Paul has been a guest on the Alex Jones’ radio show, so you shouldn’t vote for him.